May 20, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
An unindentified man was in critical condition Tuesday morning following a shooting outside of UPMC McKeesport hospital, Allegheny County police said.
Detectives said the incident occurred after the victim attempted to force his way into a car in the parking lot and that there was no danger to the general public.
The emergency room was closed temporarily following the incident and a clinic inside the hospital was closed after sustaining damage, a UPMC spokesperson said.
In a prepared release, county police said the incident began just after 3 a.m. when the shooting victim attempted to force his way into someone’s car outside of the hospital.
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May 20, 2025 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: East McKeesport News
East McKeesport Council voted to purchase a second-hand police car for the department’s fleet, but not without some debate.
At borough council’s May meeting, members voted 5-1 to purchase a 2022 Ford Explorer Interceptor for $29,100 from Mosside Specialty Cars in Wall.
The vehicle has approximately 33,000 miles on it and will replace a 2017 Ford Explorer with approximately 140,000 miles on it in the department’s four-vehicle fleet. The purchase price includes a $2,000 trade-in on the 2017 vehicle.
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May 15, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Student Community Center at Penn State Greater Allegheny opened in 2003. (File photo taken by Ryan Kegel, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.)
A leaked report this week revealed that Penn State University’s nearly 78-year-old campus in McKeesport would survive a round of cuts that would lead to the closure of seven other regional sites.
The report, revealed by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Spotlight PA ahead of a planned Penn State board of trustees meeting, recommends the closure of regional campuses in Uniontown and New Kensington, as well as DuBois, Mont Alto, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York.
Two campuses in southwestern Pennsylvania would be spared — Penn State Beaver and Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport.
Local officials reacted with relief at the unofficial, though widely reported, news.
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May 13, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: State & Region
The Downtown McKeesport Rite Aid location closed in 2023. (Tube City Almanac file photo)
Pennsylvania’s attorney general is advising Rite Aid customers they have until June 6 to use any gift cards, coupons or reward points they have accumulated.
In addition, said state Attorney General Dave Sunday, the stores will stop accepting returns or exchanges on June 4.
Barely seven months after exiting federal bankruptcy protection, the Philadelphia-based pharmacy chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection again last week.
Financial analysts have said that Rite Aid, like competing chains Walgreens and CVS, expanded too quickly and are now struggling with declining prescription reimbursements from insurance companies and the federal government.
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May 13, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne Mayor R. Scott Adams is running for re-election to his second term. He is seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 20 primary. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)
R. Scott Adams believes that he has brought “stability back to the office” of mayor in Duquesne. As he enters his fourth year in office, he looked back at the progress he said the city has made.
Adams is seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 20 primary. Former Mayor Nickole Nesby is challenging him.
“We’ve had our ups and downs,” Adams said. “But I’m proud of our work. We’ve improved the infrastructure and upgraded the water department. And the police department.”
In a recent interview, Adams used the word “stability” frequently. During Adams’ tenure as mayor, the city emerged from Act 47 financially distressed status, and is now moving toward a Home Rule Charter.
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May 13, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Nickole Nesby served as mayor of Duquesne from 2017 to 2021 and is seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 20 primary. She argues that the city needs closer management of its finances. (Submitted photo)
Four years after losing a re-election bid, Nickole Nesby is back on the ballot to be mayor of the city of Duquesne. Nesby is seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 20 primary.
After one term in office and breaking barriers as the city’s first Black woman mayor, Nesby lost the Democratic primary in 2021 to R. Scott Adams, who went onto win the November election. Adams is running for re-election this year.
Nesby has long criticized city leaders for what she calls “decades of neglect and corruption” and alleges that two of the people running against her in the primary in 2021 wouldn’t have been eligible to serve if they had won.
Nesby said that “concerned citizens” came to her recently and asked her to run again in hopes of improving the city’s financial accountability. Nesby said that when she took office in 2018, the city “had a deficit of $328,000” and when she left in 2022, Duquesne had a “$915,000 surplus.”
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May 12, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements, Entertainment
(Submitted photo courtesy McKeesport Area School District)
This weekend, six students from McKeesport Area High School took the stage and performed alongside the prestigious Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as members of the Hamlisch-Page Student Choir.
The PSO’s student choir is composed of high school and collegiate singers from the greater Pittsburgh area and was created by the late Principal Pops Conductor Marvin Hamlisch and Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh Music Director Emeritus Robert Page.
Students performed at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh during the PSO’s “Clouds in My Coffee” Mother’s Day Weekend concerts, which featured the music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Carly Simon. Student chorists supported vocalists Morgan James, Bryonha Marie and Micaela Diamond.
"We’re so proud of these students and excited to see them represent McKeesport in such an amazing opportunity," said Beth Eger, choir and piano teacher at McKeesport Area High School.
Pictured from left to right are Michael Pfeffercorn, Elizabeth Nemes, Gianna Sotereanos, Phoenix Funk and Antoine Smith. Also joining them are choir director Christine Hestwood and accompanist Lorraine Milovac. (Not pictured is Lucas Sotereanos.)
May 12, 2025 |
By Stacy Alderman | Posted in: Announcements
(Tube City Almanac file photo)
With the arrival of warm weather, spring and summer activities are ramping up in the McKeesport community, and the calendar is packed, volunteers and organizers said:
Renzie Market: The Renzie Market begins regular operations this week (May 15) and will continue on the first and third Thursday of each month through the summer. Hours are 5:30 to 8 p.m. and admission is free.
Residents can browse fresh produce and food trucks and enjoy live entertainment. The marketplace will take place at the Tulip Drive lot behind the No. 2 fire station in Renziehausen Park.
Literacy Lunch with Bluey: On May 17, the AIU McKeesport Family Center, McKeesport SHIP and the City of McKeesport will host a Literacy Lunch with Bluey. Attendants will enjoy stories and music, and snacks will be available. Each child will receive a free book to take home. To register, call the McKeesport Family Center at 412-672-6970. This event will take place between 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the akomas Blue-Top Pavilion in Renzie.
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May 12, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
New efforts are underway to improve student safety and opportunities at McKeesport Area School District, school board members said.
During Thursday’s school board meeting, MASD school director Matthew Holtzman told attendees he and fellow School Director Jason Pavlecic — members of the safe schools committee — met with administrators and community members on May 1 to discuss the enhancement of district “security features.”
Apart from identifying specific tasks, such as updating a security vestibule and rekeying door hardware, Holtzman said the meeting was a chance to welcome McKeesport and White Oak fire chiefs and examine current procedures.
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May 11, 2025 |
By Leslie Savisky | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
* — CORRECTION: This story was corrected after publication. We regret the error.
(File photo by Adam Reinherz for Tube City Almanac)
Four seats are open on the McKeesport Area School Board and nine candidates — including two incumbents — are running in the May 20 primary election.
In Pennsylvania, school board races are officially non-partisan, and all candidates have qualified to run as both as Democrats and Republicans.
Candidates who finish in the top four positions in each party’s primary will be candidates for the general election, to be held Nov. 4.
Incumbents David Donato and Matthew Holtzman are running for re-election. School Director LaToya Wright, whose term expires this year, is not running again, while Dan Goughnour resigned after being elected state representative for the 35th Legislative District.
In addition to Donato and Holtzman, other announced candidates include Bob Boyle, Tom Filotei, Kevin Kovach, Arla Payne, Mike Shelly, Julian Thomas, and Tiffany Wampler.
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